Wednesday ♥ Poem and/or Quote...

"Love grows by giving. The love we give away is the only love we keep. The only way to retain love is to give it away." ♥ Elbert Hubbard, writer and publisher

{quote taken from Love: Quotes and Passages from the Heart}
{photo courtesy of Danske}

Frilly Frilly Spring Time...

Dear Springtime Dress,

I really believe that you belong with me, well not just to me, I think that the other dresses in my closet truly need you to keep them company. I promise that when Springtime actually gets here, I will wear you more than once, I'll even take you to pretty places where we can stroll down the street with Hampton in tow and then we can dine on sweet treats and such.

I know it's not much but I hope it's enough for you to say that you'll come home with me.

pretty pretty please........

{photo courtesy of J.Crew}

Monday Daily ♥ Poem and/or Quote...

an act of love that fails is just as much a part of the divine life as an act of love that succeeds, for love is measured by fullness, not reception. ♥ Harold Loukes, Christian Educator & Orator

{quote taken from Love: Quotes and Passages from the Heart}

{photo courtesy of Danske}

Merrily Merrily Merrily Life is like a Dream...

Doesn’t this Kate Spade speing Collection just make you want to run out and skip merrily down the street?
Well, it did for me! Dreamy sigh!

{photo collage courtesy of Kate Spade}

Wednesday Daily ♥ Poem and/or Quote...

"Love is, above all else, the gift of oneself." ♥ Jean Anouilh, dramatist

{quote taken from Love: Quotes and Passages from the Heart}

{photo courtesy of Danske}

Hats off to the Chef...

If I had to choose my favorite food bloggers, who create their own dishes and have beautiful presentations, it would definitely hands up and down have to be, Smitten Kitchen and The Parsley Thief! I've posted recipes on here before from both sites and every time I visit them, it just makes me want to cook and eat really good food.

The best thing about home cooked meals are that, a. you made them yourself so it's a delightful achievement, b. you don't have to be a graduate of a cooking school to cook well {and not make people sick} and c. you learn how to make almost anything!

So an awfully HUGE thanks to the women who dare to cook and share their food savvy with the rest of the world!

{photo courtesy of Smitten Kitchen}

Darling Little Camera...

I have learned that I have a small affection for white gadgets, so when I peeped the Fuji Instax Mini Instant Camera, my affection grew and grew and grew so much that I have to have one.

Hear me out, I really do need a new camera for some of my projects and because the last time I got a camera was 2005. Heavy sigh, ok ok, this is not a need camera so much as it's a I really do "want" this camera.

{photos courtesy of Photo JoJo and Oh Happy Day}

Tuesday Daily ♥ Poem and/or Quote...

"Time is too slow for those who wait, too swift for those who fear, too long for those who grieve, too short for those who rejoice, but for those who love, time is eternity." ♥ Henry Van Dyke, clergyman and writer

{quote taken from Love: Quotes and Passages from the Heart}

{photo courtesy of Danske}

Take me to the Circus...

I absolutley ♥ Anthropologie, because they have beautiful clothes and trinkets for the home and they have a simply fantastic way of making you want to purchase everything they have to offer, so when I retrieved the catalog from the mail this monring, it made me:

a. want to go to the Circus

b. have a Circus themed-party and/or

c. create Circus themed party favors

Either way, I simply love their take on the Circus and I actually can't wait for the Circus to come to town this year.

Daily ♥ Poem and/or Quote…

I have this book called Love: Quotes and Passages from the Heart, by B.C. Aronson and I absolutely love it. You have a mixture of emotions, laughter, sorrow, joy etc., all related to love by an array of people from comdeians, poets, writers, etc. It's a really good book.

So, in celebration of February {♥ Month}, I’m thinking why not post a love poem or quote either every day or every week throughout the month from the book just to share some of the love {a collective arrangement of musical oohs and aahs go right here}!

Quote of the day:

"To have a good friend is the purest of all God's gifts, for it is a love that has no exchange of payment. It is not inherited, as with a family. It is not compelling, as with a child. And it has no means of physical pleasure, as with a mate. It is, therefore, an indescribable bond that brings with it a far deeper devotion than all the others."♥

"Frances Farmer," Actress
{photo courtesy of Anthropologie}

It's February Lovelies...

The wonderful wonderfulness {did I just create a word?} about February is that there are so many lovely things to do and celebrate this month, i.e. Black History Month, birthdays, holidays and of course Love!

I'm excited that February is here and that we have another month to do and experience great things!!!

Have a lovely February lovelies.

{photo courtesy of Pony Tail}

Bedroom VaVoom...

I really like the idea of having two seats face each other in the bedroom. It's like a nice little "nook" area smack dab right there! And this wee little table with the flowers is absolutely perfect!

{photo via Elizabeth Anne Designs}

Cupcake Bar...

I would so totally LOVE to have one at a party for me or a friend. How darling is this?

According to Style Swoon, the concept of the Cupcake Bar is to:

a. have at least two kinds of cupcakes,

b. have at least three different flavors of icing

c. have as many different kinds of sprinkles as you want

She also notes, that it particularly good to have a small group {less than 20 people}.

I agree with her that people love making their own treats so I think this would be a more than perfect idea!!!!!

I have to try this out PRONTO!

photos via and courtesy of Style Swoon}

Penelope Toop Projects...

I'm currently working on three PT projects and one super de duper special secret project!

I'm excited and thrilled to say the least....I'll tell you more in a bit!

Color Palette...

I kinda of already have these colors {creams, browns, whites and various shades of pink} in my room already but this photo is really making me fall even more in dreamy la la land love with it.

I was thinking about slightly changing my current colors from the pink and coral to more of a lilac but I think that what's presently in my room, has just become permanent!

{photo via Oh Happy Day}

Yumm Yumm Yumm...

This Gelateria watercolor painting makes me hungry for gelato and art!!!!

You can purchase this and other beautiful watercolor paintings by It Looks Good To Me for a mere $35.oo.

Restaurant Adventure 2010 #1...

I've wanted to go to Busboys & Poets for quite some time now because I heard so many good things about it, so on Monday, my gal pal and I headed there and we had a wonderful time. Not only was the food and atmosphere fantastic but while having dinner, I noticed that the more people started pouring in, their wrists were adorned with a yellow bracelet because.....they were going to perform! Monday night is apparently Open Mic night!!!! They sang songs and read and spake poetry and it was just a fantastic positive, amazing atmosphere and evening, it honestly made me feel like I was in Love Jones during the cafe scenes!

I love the description phrased on their page: "BB & P is like your friend from college who on any given night could be found at either a coffee shop, poetry slam...."

Their mission: Busboys and Poets is a restaurant, bookstore, fair trade market and gathering place where people can discuss issues of social justice and peace. Each Busboys and Poets location should enhance the community -- allowing us to bring together a diverse clientele reflective of the surrounding neighborhoods. Busboys and Poets creates an environment where shared conversations over food and drink allow the progressive, artistic and literary communities to dialogue, educate and interact.

I thoroughly enjoyed myself and I would love to return to Busboys & Poets!

{photo courtesy of Busboys & Poets}

Peace and Hope for Haiti...

in the aftermath of the inconceivable earthquake {the largest in 200 years in Haitian history} that hit Port-au-Prince, Haiti yesterday, my sincerest prayers go to the people of Haiti as well as their family members who live in other parts of the world and all those effected, who are trying to reconcile what happened on yesterday.

My prayer is for peace, comfort, strength {mentally and physically}, revival of the hearts and minds of the people and its city, assistance from those around the world & the ability to somehow see a bit of light {hope} even at this unimaginable time.

Though tragedy, expected or unexpected, is never an experience that is easy to deal with, I that prayer from pure hearts for Haiti can and will offer some semblance of peace.

{photo courtesy of NPR}

Happy New Year…!

As another year has ended, another one has begun. I’m very excited about each new year seen and doubly excited to make a list of wonderful things that I would like to do within the year. So in honor of the New Year Resolution tradition, I’ve made a very small list of things I either: want to do, should do, need to do, would love to do and the list goes on. Since this is a milestone year, I think that as the year continues along, I will add more items to the list hoping that I can accomplish them all!

1. become more time conscience, meaning “become better at being on time”
2. do something creative and fun every month either solo, with my family members and/or gal pals, be it something small or big, just do something that brings me some type of joy. i.e., taking a cooking class, going to a concert or play etc.
3. learn a new skill/craft. Perhaps learning another language or learning the art of letter pressing!
4. explore new restaurants around the city because this city has soooo much to offer and it’s time that I become serious about breathing in its culture, plus I like to eat really good food!

Let's get started!

{photo courtesy of Confetti System}

Merry Christmas....

May you and your family, friends and loved ones have a very Merry Christmas. May it be filled with laughter, love, comfort, peace and warm memories! Be loving and thankful for those persons in your life & being able to celebrate another wonderful holiday.

Let's also take time to pray for those who have lost loved ones during the course of this year or in years past, and that their minds be filled with great memories and healing. And in a world where people can often times like you one moment and dislike you the next, be an example and allow the light {Christ} that resides in you to be seen. Be kind with your words as well as your actions and most of all love one another.

Merry Christmas!

{photo courtesy of Target}